you’re coming with us. Don’t you want to see Belinda?”
“Hurry up and wait,” muttered Boomer as the KEY News group stood outside the dressing room door. Twenty minutes passed as Keith Fallows and Victoria Sterling each went in for a visit with the star. Finally, the dressing room door opened.
“Belinda can see you now.” Meg beckoned them inside.
Belinda rose from her dressing table chair to greet the group.
“Nick McGregor! How wonderful to see you,” Belinda said as she hugged him. “It’s been too long.”
“You were just terrific tonight, Belinda,” said Nick, flashinghis bright smile. “But I’m not going to stay. I know you have this interview to do, but I should also tell you how glad I am that Meg has had the experience of working with you.”
Belinda’s expression was puzzled as she looked from Nick to Meg.
“Meg is my daughter, Belinda.”
“You’re kidding. I had no idea,” said Belinda. She turned to Meg. “I should have made the connection, but I just didn’t. Yet now that I look at you, I can see your mother in your face. She was a lovely woman, Meg. I’m sure she’d be so proud of you.”
“Thank you,” said Meg.
Nick looked a bit crestfallen, thought Caroline. Did it bother him for some reason that Belinda hadn’t connected Meg as his daughter, or was he upset to be reminded of Maggie?
“Well, now that I know you’re here, Nick, you must come to the party at my place tonight. I insist on it.”
“That’s swell of you, Belinda,” said Nick. “Now I won’t spend another minute keeping you from your interview.” He leaned over and gave Meg and Caroline pecks on the cheek. “I’ll see my girls later.”
“Nick, your hair has grown whiter, but don’t tell me that Caroline Enright is your daughter, too,” said Belinda.
Nick laughed. “No, Belinda, Caroline is my new wife. We were married a few months ago.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time tonight for this interview,” said Caroline.
“My pleasure,” said Belinda. “I’m especially glad I agreed, now that I know you’re married to Nick. He’s a wonderful guy. I’m glad he’s found someone to love again.”
Caroline felt uncomfortable, conscious of the fact that her stepdaughter was listening.
“I think I’ll get this stuff to the laundry,” said Meg, hurrying from the dressing room.
“Did I say something wrong?” asked Belinda as the door clicked shut.
Caroline shook her head. “No, you didn’t. But her mother’s death is still raw for Meg. It’s hard for her to accept a stepmother.”
“It must be hard for you, too,” said Belinda. “A mother is irreplaceable. And how do you possibly fill a ghost’s shoes?”
“Imagine being associated with someone who has no conscience. Victoria Sterling has given us a staggering view of the true terror it must be to be joined to a sociopath. I count myself fortunate to be able to interpret this rich and fabulous material.”
Caroline felt that Belinda was forthcoming with her answers through the entire twenty-minute interview.
“Thank you for giving us your time, when I know you have a party to get to,” she said. “Let me just ask you one last thing.What about taking this role to the screen? Does a Devil in the Details movie interest you?”
Belinda shook her head. “I’d be interested in seeing it, but I have no desire to play Valerie on film.”
“That surprises me,” said Caroline. “It would seem to be a natural for you.”
Belinda smiled. “Let’s just say there are other projects I’d rather take on.”
C H A P T E R
43
The party was already in full swing when the hostess arrived. The guests milling around the torchlit patio broke into applause when Belinda appeared.
“Thank you, everybody, and thank you for coming to Curtains Up tonight.” Belinda beamed as she looked around. “It’s so wonderful to have you all here to celebrate.”
“You’re the best,
“Hurry up and wait,” muttered Boomer as the KEY News group stood outside the dressing room door. Twenty minutes passed as Keith Fallows and Victoria Sterling each went in for a visit with the star. Finally, the dressing room door opened.
“Belinda can see you now.” Meg beckoned them inside.
Belinda rose from her dressing table chair to greet the group.
“Nick McGregor! How wonderful to see you,” Belinda said as she hugged him. “It’s been too long.”
“You were just terrific tonight, Belinda,” said Nick, flashinghis bright smile. “But I’m not going to stay. I know you have this interview to do, but I should also tell you how glad I am that Meg has had the experience of working with you.”
Belinda’s expression was puzzled as she looked from Nick to Meg.
“Meg is my daughter, Belinda.”
“You’re kidding. I had no idea,” said Belinda. She turned to Meg. “I should have made the connection, but I just didn’t. Yet now that I look at you, I can see your mother in your face. She was a lovely woman, Meg. I’m sure she’d be so proud of you.”
“Thank you,” said Meg.
Nick looked a bit crestfallen, thought Caroline. Did it bother him for some reason that Belinda hadn’t connected Meg as his daughter, or was he upset to be reminded of Maggie?
“Well, now that I know you’re here, Nick, you must come to the party at my place tonight. I insist on it.”
“That’s swell of you, Belinda,” said Nick. “Now I won’t spend another minute keeping you from your interview.” He leaned over and gave Meg and Caroline pecks on the cheek. “I’ll see my girls later.”
“Nick, your hair has grown whiter, but don’t tell me that Caroline Enright is your daughter, too,” said Belinda.
Nick laughed. “No, Belinda, Caroline is my new wife. We were married a few months ago.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time tonight for this interview,” said Caroline.
“My pleasure,” said Belinda. “I’m especially glad I agreed, now that I know you’re married to Nick. He’s a wonderful guy. I’m glad he’s found someone to love again.”
Caroline felt uncomfortable, conscious of the fact that her stepdaughter was listening.
“I think I’ll get this stuff to the laundry,” said Meg, hurrying from the dressing room.
“Did I say something wrong?” asked Belinda as the door clicked shut.
Caroline shook her head. “No, you didn’t. But her mother’s death is still raw for Meg. It’s hard for her to accept a stepmother.”
“It must be hard for you, too,” said Belinda. “A mother is irreplaceable. And how do you possibly fill a ghost’s shoes?”
“Imagine being associated with someone who has no conscience. Victoria Sterling has given us a staggering view of the true terror it must be to be joined to a sociopath. I count myself fortunate to be able to interpret this rich and fabulous material.”
Caroline felt that Belinda was forthcoming with her answers through the entire twenty-minute interview.
“Thank you for giving us your time, when I know you have a party to get to,” she said. “Let me just ask you one last thing.What about taking this role to the screen? Does a Devil in the Details movie interest you?”
Belinda shook her head. “I’d be interested in seeing it, but I have no desire to play Valerie on film.”
“That surprises me,” said Caroline. “It would seem to be a natural for you.”
Belinda smiled. “Let’s just say there are other projects I’d rather take on.”
C H A P T E R
43
The party was already in full swing when the hostess arrived. The guests milling around the torchlit patio broke into applause when Belinda appeared.
“Thank you, everybody, and thank you for coming to Curtains Up tonight.” Belinda beamed as she looked around. “It’s so wonderful to have you all here to celebrate.”
“You’re the best,
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